Iron Range man accused of trying to kill mail carrier

Upset with the U.S. Postal Service, an Iron Range man allegedly crashed his vehicle into a delivery truck with the intent of killing a mail carrier. Alan Lynn Birt, 56, of Marble, is charged with first-degree assault after authorities said he sla...

Upset with the U.S. Postal Service, an Iron Range man allegedly crashed his vehicle into a delivery truck with the intent of killing a mail carrier.

Alan Lynn Birt, 56, of Marble, is charged with first-degree assault after authorities said he slammed his pickup truck into a postal vehicle at a speed as high as 80 mph last week in Hoyt Lakes.

A 55-year-old employee was inside the truck at the time of the crash. She was ejected and suffered a life-threatening head injury, including a skull fracture and four broken ribs, according to a criminal complaint.

Birt, who was described as "combative" at the scene, allegedly admitted to the incident and bragged of what he believed to be a successful attempt to kill a "useless" postal employee.

Birt was arraigned Tuesday in State District Court in Virginia. His bail was set at $100,000 and he was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

According to the complaint:

Officers responded to Dorchester Drive just before 11 a.m. on May 8. Witnesses were tending to the female victim, while Birt was seen "yelling and ranting" near the crash scene.

Witnesses told police Birt was driving a brand-new three-quarter-ton truck when he struck the delivery vehicle. Witnesses stated the truck sounded to be "maxed out" or "pedal to the floor" when the collision occurred, with one estimating Birt was traveling at 80 mph.

Birt was uncooperative with law enforcement and a Taser was deployed. Four officers were eventually needed to take him into custody.

In a subsequent statement, Birt admitted he was upset with the Postal Service. He stated that he knew there was a person in the mail truck and that he struck it intentionally.

While at a hospital for evaluation, Birt was asked whether he remembered anything from the crash.

"Yeah, I killed that f---ing useless carrier," he allegedly responded.

After officers told him he did not kill her, Birt reportedly replied: "Well, someone should."

The mail carrier was not identified in the complaint, and her condition as of Tuesday remained unclear.

A check of court records reveals only traffic violations on Birt's records. He remains in the St. Louis County Jail.